Morgans Blue Mountain Lager: DME or LME?

[ebbelwoi]

I'm going with the Morgans BML kit for my first attempt at beer. Trying to decide between light DME and Morgans Extra Pale LME. Planning to use w34/70 and Hallertau. I have a dedicated brewing fridge with decent temp control. Looking for a light color, all else being equal.

Any thoughts on choosing between these two?

 

[JohnSand]

I used LME when I started, because my first kit came with it. That seemed like a good idea at the time. When I use extract now it's DME, I find it easier. It all comes out of the package when you empty it, no sticking in the container. It clumps and floats, you have to break it up, I prefer that to LME which settles. I never seem to be able to stir all of the LME in, so it caramelizes when I turn the flame back on.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

I'm going with the Morgans BML kit for my first attempt at beer. Trying to decide between light DME and Morgans Extra Pale LME. Planning to use w34/70 and Hallertau. I have a dedicated brewing fridge with decent temp control. Looking for a light color, all else being equal.

Any thoughts on choosing between these two?

In storage, LME tends to darken quicker than DME. If you have access to known fresh LME or DME, either will work.

Shorter boils (30 minutes rather than 60) and full boils (or "wort a/b" from HtB, 4e) will help with achieving a lighter color.

When I brew with DME, I get acceptable color for the beer (but I'm willing to accept color towards the darker end of the style in exchange for a shorter brew day). When I want/need color on the low end for the style, I'm willing to BIAB.

 

[ebbelwoi]

Thanks for the replies... this was the first time I started a thread on my phone, and I just noticed it went in the wrong forum. Maybe I can get it moved.

 

[NGD]

I used LME when I started, because my first kit came with it. That seemed like a good idea at the time. When I use extract now it's DME, I find it easier. It all comes out of the package when you empty it, no sticking in the container. It clumps and floats, you have to break it up, I prefer that to LME which settles. I never seem to be able to stir all of the LME in, so it caramelizes when I turn the flame back on.

Thats funny, I’m just the opposite. I can never seem to break those clumps up all the way. With LME I just bring the water to 160, pour while stirring and stir like crazy for a minute or two. Never have had an issue with scorching, although I only put maybe 1/2 the amount the recipe calls for at the beginning and the rest at flameout.